Tepid Desert Rock

Scarab opened Desert Rock on Friday night with a quite frankly disappointing set. As someone in the crowd aptly put it, it seems their parents were able to buy them the right instruments and gear, but the group don't know how to play the metal scene properly. It was a sentiment echoed by nearly everyone standing near the stage.

However, despite a shaky start, many of the mostly young metalhead fans were excited by the evening's line-up and were eagerly anticipating Arch Enemy - there was more excitement for their set than there was for Motorhead, showing just how much of an impact this previously underground band has made.

Nervecell brought some original lyrics and hard guitar riffs to the festival and set the tone for the unbelievable performances by both Arch Enemy and Motorhead. This tour marks Motorhead's first ever performance in the Middle East, since they began their career in 1975.

Many of the thousand-strong mainly teenage crowd were just waiting to see Angela Gossow, Arch Enemy's gorgeous lead singer, perform.

But, some of the older fans in the crowd were disappointed with the line-up.

"I have been coming here for four years and this one is not as good as last year, except for Arch Enemy, and the festival used to be two days, not just one. What happened?" asked Sarah Smith, a Dubai resident.

She said that if she could have her ideal line-up, it would be Rammstein, Tool, 69 Eyes and Seether (a South African metal group).

She that the metal scene in Dubai was not supported very well. "There is not enough rock and metal music in this country - they are missing out on a huge market."

However, another fan, Oruna Al Horani, was more enthusiastic.

"It's good - better than last year because Motorhead are playing!"

The less discerning teenagers in the crowd went all out for the experience.

As Joms Pasarez put it succinctly: "It's metalised brutal!"